| 53 T T Virginia Wright Talking turkey keeps business growing The product range is primarily turkey and duck whole birds as well as various ‘cut up’ portions of turkey and duck ready for cooking, including breast and thigh, frames, wings, drumsticks, hindquarters . Canter Valley PRODUCTION It was 2002 when Marlborough sheep and deer farmers Lachlan and Kathy Dick were looking for a change, and moved to North Canterbury with the purchase of the poultry farm and processing plant, Canter Valley. Established in 1987, it was primarily growing duck and turkey with a few quail and poussins (16-day old chickens). “There was a bit to learn, but it was fairly straightforward, and fundamentally it’s the same,” says Lachlan. “It’s still all about planning, but we wanted to have a bit more control over everything along the way, and here we have a more input into the final product that comes from what we’re farming.” The birds are mostly housed in sheds on an eight-hectare and a five-hectare block, with capacity added through contractors scattered around North Canterbury growing additional birds. Pasture isn’t as important with poultry as it is with sheep and deer, and although they enjoy eating grass, they get most of their nutrition from New Zealand-grown milling wheat (feed wheat as opposed to baker’s wheat), and a balanced diet ensured by specially trained nutritionists. In the last 20-plus years, the staff has increased from 16 to 34 as the business has steadily grown, along with the range of products Canter Valley offers. These are still primarily turkey and duck whole birds as well as various ‘cut up’ portions of turkey and duck ready for cooking, including breast and thigh, frames, wings, drumsticks, hindquarters – in other words, any cut that‘s likely to feature on the menu of one of the many restaurants they sell to around New Zealand, along with domestic households. With a focus on adding value, Canter Valley now offers smoked duck breasts, rendered duck fat, and boneless roasts with various flavours of stuffing. They are the only duck producer in the South Island, with one other in the North Island, and one of only two turkey producers in the country (Tegel being the other). ‘We’re the smallest turkey producer in the country, but we’re also the second-biggest,” says Lachlan with a smile. Recognising a shift in the market, they changed their turkeys from barn raised to free range, so once the birds are fully feathered, at about five or six weeks old, they go and live outside in the paddock. “Our turkeys are 100% turkey – nothing is added to our whole birds at all. Most of what we sell are five or six kilos, but we grow some of them up to 12 kilos.” “Our turkeys are 100% turkey – nothing is added to our whole birds at all. Most of what we sell are five or six kilos, but we grow some of them up to 12 kilos. You couldn’t cook one that big in a conventional oven, but they’re popular with people having a big gathering, especially with Americans looking for a big centrepiece,” says Lachlan. Canter Valley sells domestically through the online shop, and to restaurants, with some exports to the Asia Pacific market. Lachlan and Kathy keep an eye on what’s happening overseas, which led them to release a new product called the turducken, explains Lachlan. ‘It’s a boned-out turkey, so a turkey without a rib cage, but it’s still got the wings and drums, and inside that is a boned-out duck, and inside that a boned-out chicken. It weighs about six kilos and it’s a favourite for people looking to feed about 30 people.” Anyone wanting to try cooking turkey or duck, quail or poussin at home can find all the Canter Valley premium products through their online shop. Whether you have 30 coming to dinner or you are cooking for one or two, there are carefully prepared portions to suit everyone. Email: alastair@cooltranz.co.nz | Phone: 021 826 384 Web: www.CoolTranz.co.nz Proud to support Canter Valley We specialise in the temperature controlled transportation of produce and food grade products around New Zealand. PROVIDING SERVICE & CARE Proud to supply feed to Canter Valley www.wan-nz.co.nz
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